Report: Yankees remain interested in Corbin, Happ after Paxton trade

The New York Yankees aren't done making moves, even after acquiring left-hander James Paxton from the Seattle Mariners.

Instead of shifting gears toward signing outfielder Bryce Harper or infielder Manny Machado, the Yankees are reportedly placing more priority into the pitching staff as they remain interested in southpaws Patrick Corbin and J.A. Happ, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

Either Corbin or Happ would then slide into a rotation featuring Paxton, Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, and CC Sabathia.

The Yankees have emerged as one of Corbin's top suitors. They've been seen as a likely destination since the spring when the left-hander expressed an interest in donning pinstripes.

Meanwhile, Happ was a welcome addition to the Yankees' postseason pursuit in 2018, going 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA over 11 starts after being acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays.

The sustained interest in Corbin and Happ doesn't mean the Yankees won't still make a play at Harper or Machado, just that those plans are on the back burner for the time being.

And for his part, general manager Brian Cashman is being coy about what the Yankees' next moves will be.

"I can't predict what's going to happen as we move forward, other than the fact that we need to fill some needs," Cashman said, according to Pete Caldera of the Bergen Record.